Coronation Street's Carla Connor has endured a harrowing end to 2025, culminating in a terrifying kidnapping that has left her life hanging in the balance. As the new year unfolds, viewers are desperate to know: what happens next to the factory boss, and is she leaving the cobbles for good?
A Festive Season From Hell
Carla Connor, played by Alison King, has faced more than her fair share of drama, but the latter half of 2025 plunged her into a particularly dark chapter. After a year that began with a desperate need for a kidney transplant and involved two kidnappings, things finally seemed to be looking up. Her relationship with DS Lisa Swain flourished, leading to an engagement and buying a house together in the summer.
However, their happiness was perpetually haunted by the memory of Lisa's late wife, Becky Swain. In a shocking twist, Becky, presumed dead, reappeared alive. Determined to reclaim her family, Becky embarked on a vicious campaign to destroy 'Swarla'. Her manipulation succeeded, causing a heartbroken Carla to apparently flee to Lanzarote after Lisa called for a clean break.
The Chilling Truth of Carla's Disappearance
In a devastating revelation, it emerged that Carla never made it to Spain. Instead of a sunny resort, she was imprisoned in a cupboard in a low-rent Weatherfield flat, held captive by Becky. Using Carla's phone, Becky fabricated social media posts and replied to Lisa's messages, making it seem Carla had ended the relationship and was enjoying a new life abroad.
During her captivity, Carla made several brave attempts to signal for help. Forced to speak to Lisa's daughter Betsy at knifepoint, she invented a hotel and suite name that was a cryptic three-word location clue. She also managed to briefly escape using a shard of broken plate, but was recaptured by a furious Becky, who left her with a head wound.
The motive for the kidnapping became clear: Carla had discovered evidence that Becky was a corrupt police officer. When she went to the flat to find proof, Becky caught her and imprisoned her to stop the truth from reaching Lisa and Betsy.
Will Carla Be Rescued in Time?
Hope emerged this week as PC Kit Green finally pieced together the clues behind Carla's disappearance. After deciphering her location hint, he raced to the flat, only to find it empty. The only signs of a struggle were broken locks on the cupboard door and an empty blister pack of pills. Meanwhile, Becky was seen with concerning items—ropes, bloodied fabric, and cleaning supplies—in her car boot, with no sign of Carla.
In a breakthrough during the episode airing on January 2, 2026, Sarah Platt realised Carla's social media photos were doctored when she spotted Carla's engagement ring, which Lisa had just given her, was supposedly being worn in a beach picture. This confirmed the deception. Kit and Sarah sped to the flat, where Kit discovered one of Carla's hairs in the closet, providing forensic proof she had been there.
What Next for Carla, Lisa, and Becky?
In upcoming scenes, a tip-off leads Kit to the location of Becky's car, promising an end to Carla's ordeal. However, her troubles are far from over. Carla is confirmed to appear in the historic Corriedale crossover episode, which will see characters from Coronation Street and Emmerdale collide in a catastrophic multi-vehicle pile-up that will claim lives.
Fans can vote for one of four scenes to feature in the special episode, including a moment between Charity Dingle and Carla Connor. Voting closes 15 minutes before the episode airs on Monday, January 5, via an Instagram poll.
Fortunately, actress Alison King has confirmed that Carla will survive the Corriedale disaster. She expressed relief upon reading the scripts, stating, "I'm not even maimed!" However, her long-term future on the Street remains uncertain. Will the trauma of recent events drive her away from Weatherfield for good, or will she find the strength to rebuild once again?
As for Lisa and Becky, their story reaches a critical juncture. Successfully manipulated, Lisa agrees to restart their family and flees with Becky and Betsy towards a ferry to Rotterdam. However, when Lisa receives a shocking phone call from Carla, the truth shatters her world, causing a distracted Becky to lose control of the car, setting the stage for more drama.
